Le Roy v. Beard 49 U.S. 451 (1850)

U.S. Supreme Court

Le Roy v. Beard, 49 U.S. 8 How. 451 451 (1850)

Le Roy v. Beard

49 U.S. (8 How.) 451

Syllabus

By the laws of Wisconsin, where the contract in question was made, a scroll or any device by way of seal has the same effect as an actual seal. But in New York it is otherwise, and an action brought in New York upon such an instrument must be an action appropriate to unsealed instruments.

Therefore, where a deed was executed with a scroll in Wisconsin which contained a covenant of seizin, and an action was brought in New York for a breach of this, it was properly an action of assumpsit, and not covenant.

It was not necessary in the declaration to allege an eviction, because the covenant was broken as soon as made.

Where a power of attorney authorized the agent "to contract for the sale of, and to sell, either in whole or in part, the lands and real estate so purchased," and "on such terms in all respects as he shall deem most advantageous," and

"to execute deeds of conveyance necessary for the full and perfect transfer of all our respective right, title &c., as sufficiently in all respects as we ourselves could do personally in the premises,"

these expressions, aided by the situation of the parties and the property, the usages of the country on such subjects, the acts of the parties themselves, and any other circumstance having a legal bearing upon the question, must be construed as giving to the agent the power to enter into, a covenant of seizin.

Some of the general rules stated for the construction of powers.

The facts of the case were these:

On 31 August, 1836, Jacob Le Roy and Charlotte D. Le Roy, citizens of the State of New York, executed the following power of attorney:

"Know all men by these presents that we, Jacob Le Roy and Charlotte D. Le Roy, his wife, of the Town of Le Roy in the County of Genessee, and State of New York, have constituted and appointed and by these presents do constitute and appoint Elisha Starr, of the same place, our true and lawful attorney for the purposes following, to-wit:"

"In the name of the said Jacob Le Roy and for his use and benefit, to expend and invest certain moneys for that purpose herewith placed by him in the hands of the said Starr in the purchase of lands and real estate in some of the western states and territories of the United States at the discretion of the said Starr, and to take the certificates, titles, deeds, or other evidences of such purchases to and in the name of the said Jacob Le Roy, and also for and in the name of the said Jacob Le Roy and Charlotte D. Le Roy to contract for the sale of and to sell either in whole or in part the lands and real estate so purchased by the said Starr with the money herewith furnished him, or any other lands or real estate heretofore purchased in the said states or territories by the said Starr or Suffrencis Dewy for the

said Jacob Le Roy and now owned by him, or any lands which may have been bought with the avails of the lands so purchased as aforesaid, or for which the same may have been exchanged, to such person or persons, for such consideration, and on such terms in all respects as the said Starr shall deem most advantageous, and for us and in our names to execute to the purchaser or purchasers thereof, the assignments, contracts, or deeds of conveyance necessary for the full and perfect transfer of all of our respective right, title, and interest, dower and right of dower, as sufficiently in all respects as we ourselves could do personally in the premises, and generally as the agent and attorney of the said Jacob Le Roy to purchase lands or real estate with the money now furnished him, and to sell, resell and exchange the same or any lands heretofore purchased by him for the said Jacob Le Roy or any lands or real estate that he may acquire in consideration of the sale or exchange of the same to such persons and on such terms in all respects as he may deem most eligible, and to do all acts legally necessary for the perfect transfer to such persons of the title of the same; we hereby ratifying and confirming whatsoever our said attorney shall do in the premises, by virtue of these presents, until 1 July next, 1837, from and after which day these presents and the powers conferred thereby shall cease and be null and void."

"Sealed with our seals and dated this 31 August, 1836."

"JACOB LE ROY [L.S.]"

"CHARLOTTE D. LE ROY [L.S.]"

"In presence of:"

This power was regularly acknowledged.

On 7 November, 1836, Starr executed the deed which was the subject of the present controversy, viz.:

"This indenture, made this 7 November in the year of our Lord 1836 between Jacob Le Roy and Charlotte D. Le Roy wife of said Jacob, both of Le Roy Genesee County, State of New York, by Elisha Starr, now of Milwaukee, in the Territory of Wisconsin, their lawful attorney, parties of the first part, and William Beard, of Newtown, Fairfield County, and State of Connecticut, party of the second part, witnesseth that the said party of the first part, for and in consideration of one thousand eight hundred dollars in hand paid by the said party of the second part, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, remised, released, aliened, and confirmed, and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell, remise, release, alien, and confirm unto the said party of the

second part, and to his heirs and assigns, forever, one certain piece or parcel of land, situated in the Town of Milwaukee and Territory of Wisconsin, viz.: one equal undivided acre of land, in fifty-seven and sixty hundredths acres, said fifty-seven and sixty hundredth acres being in township lot number three of the southeast fractional quarter of section number thirty-two in said township seven, north of range twenty-two east, it being part of the same tract of land conveyed to us by Levi C. Turner, of Cooperstown, Otsego County, State of New York, as per his deed, bearing date 28 April, 1836, together with all and singular the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in any wise appertaining, and the reversion and reversions, remainder and remainders, rents, issues, and profits thereof. And all the estate, right, title, interest, claim, or demand whatsoever of the said party of the first part, either in law or equity, of, in, and to the above-bargained premises, with the hereditaments and appurtenances, to have and to hold the said premises as above described, with the appurtenances, unto the said party of the second part, and to his heirs and assigns, to their sole and only proper use, benefit, and behoof forever. And the said parties of the first part, by their attorney as aforesaid, for their heirs, executors, and administrators, do covenant, grant, bargain, and agree to and with the said party of the second part and his heirs and assigns that at the time of the ensealing and delivering these presents, we are well seized of the premises above conveyed as of a good, sure, perfect, absolute, and indefeasible estate of inheritance in the law in fee simple, and have good right, full power, and lawful authority to grant, bargain, sell, and convey the same in manner and form as aforesaid. And that the same are free and clear of all encumbrances of what kind and nature soever. And that the above-bargained premises, in the quiet and peaceable possession of the said party of the second part, his heirs and assigns, against all and every person or persons lawful claiming or to claim the whole or any part thereof they will forever warrant and defend."

"In witness whereof the said parties of the first part have hereunto set their hands and seals the day and year first above written."

There were three persons, viz., Nichols, Baldwin and Beard, engaged in making purchases from Starr, each upon his own account, and the following letters were read upon the trial. They are inserted because the opinion of the Court lays some stress upon the actions of the parties.

"Newtown, August 28, 1838"

"JACOB LE ROY, ESQ.:"

"Dear Sir -- I take the liberty of forwarding to you the following information, by advices lately received from my attorney at Milwaukee. I learn that the title of the property I purchased of you in Milwaukee, in November, 1836, has failed in consequence of the Indian title's not being extinguished when the property was floated. I further learn that the receiver or land officer has been directed to refund the purchase money to the original purchaser, and that the subject has been before the Solicitor of the Treasury, and he has directed that the property belongs to the government, and that an appeal was taken from his decision to the Secretary of the Treasury, who confirmed the decision."

"If so, you are doubtless aware that upon your covenants of warranty, you are liable to refund to me the purchase money, which I shall expect you to do, together with the interest on the same. If a deed of release or quitclaim will be of any service to you, you can have one when the money is refunded."

"I shall be happy to hear from you on the receipt of this, and any proposition you may have to make regarding the premises will be duly considered."

"Your obedient servant,"

"[Signed] THEOPHILUS NICHOLS"

"Le Roy 2 September, 1838"

"Dear Sir -- I received last evening yours of the 28th, and the contents surprised me not a little, that I, who held large possessions in Milwaukee, and in constant communication with that place, should receive the first intelligence of so great a misfortune from you. I received a letter three days ago from that place, but not a word is said about any trouble, and I have therefore come to the conclusion your agent has been hoaxed; the whole statement carries on the face of it an absurdity. Admitting that anything had occurred as you state, has not the United States received the same amount

there from its land as it has elsewhere? Do you imagine that Congress would allow innocent persons to suffer in a case of that kind? I have written to Milwaukee by this day's mail to ascertain if there is any difficulty, and in the interim would beg you to keep easy in mind, for you may rest assured that your title will never be disturbed."

"Respectfully, yours, truly,"

"[Signed] THEOPHILUS NICHOLS"

"New York, 12 June, 1839"

"THEOPHILUS NICHOLS, ESQ.:"

"Sir -- Your letter of the 1st instant was returned to me this day from Le Roy. In reply I state that the title to the lands purchased from me is derived from the United States, and I know of no mode by which a sale can be rescinded by any officer of the government after it has been once consummated. If any error has been committed, of which I have no information upon which reliance ought to be placed in transactions of business, the government will no doubt correct it. Besides, as my grantor is liable to me if there is any defect of title. I can make no voluntary settlement without increasing the difficulties. There were many purchasers at the public sales of the lands of which those I sold are a part, who have sold out, and it cannot be possible, if there is any substantial legal defect in the sale, that the question will not soon receive the adjudication of some sufficient legal tribunal, when I shall always be willing to fulfill any legal claims which I may be under to you or your friends."

"With respect, yours &c.,"

"JACOB LE ROY"

"New York, 5 February, 1841"

"Dear Sir: Yours addressed to me at Le Roy came to hand in due course, being returned to this place. In reply to your remarks I have only to say that so soon as the highest tribunals of our country shall decide that my title to the land sold you is defective, I shall be ready to settle with you on just principles; but until then I must decline all negotiations. You say that the title is bad. Perhaps you are not aware that an act passed the Senate of the United States at its last session unanimously confirming the sale, and was only lost in the House for want of time. I am in great hopes that relief will be obtained this session, but at any rate a long time cannot now elapse before justice will be done us, for a more righteous claim there cannot be. My situation is the same as yours.

Until such decision is made, I cannot make claim from those from whom I purchased."

"With great respect, yours, truly,"

"JACOB LE ROY"

"WILLIAM BEARD, ESQ., Newtown"

On 24 June, 1841, Beard, a citizen of the State of Connecticut, brought his action in the circuit court of New York against Le Roy. It was an action of assumpsit containing the ordinary money counts, and also two special counts stating the purchase and sale, the covenant of seizin, and an averment that the grantor was not so seized, whereby he became liable to repay the $1,800.

The defendant pleaded the general issue to the money counts, and a special plea that he had a good title to the premises described in the declaration. To this plea there was a general replication.

In April, 1846, the case came up for trial.

The counsel for the plaintiff offered in evidence the power of attorney, the deposition of Starr, the oral evidence of Nichols, the letters above recited, and some other evidence not material to be mentioned.

The counsel for the plaintiff then offered to read in evidence the deed or instrument of conveyance executed by the defendant, by Elisha Starr, his attorney, to the plaintiff, with a scroll and the word "Seal" written therein, opposite the name of the defendant, as subscribed in execution thereof, without any wafer, wax, or other tenacious substance being affixed thereto, referred to in, and proved by, the said depositions. The counsel for the defendant objected to the reading of the covenants contained in said deed so offered on the ground that the power of attorney from the defendant to Starr did not authorize Starr to enter into such covenants on behalf of the defendant.

The court overruled the objection, and the defendant's counsel excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then offered numerous papers from the General Land Office to show that the title of Le Roy was not good in the premises conveyed.

The counsel for the defendant then offered to read in evidence on his part from a book purporting to be a printed copy of the laws enacted by the Legislature of the Territory of Wisconsin "an act of the said legislature in relation to seals."

The counsel for the plaintiff objected to the evidence so offered on the ground that the same was not authenticated in

such manner as to entitle the same to be read in evidence, and the court overruled the objection, and to the decision thereupon the counsel for the plaintiff excepted.

The counsel for the defendant then read in evidence from said printed book as follows:

"SEC. 5. That any instrument to which the person making the same shall affix any device by way of seal shall be adjudged and held to be of the same force and obligation as if it were actually sealed."

The counsel for the defendant then prayed the court to instruct the jury, among other things, that no action can be sustained against the defendant in this suit because the power of attorney executed by the defendant to Elisha Starr did not authorize Elisha Starr to warrant the title of the defendant to any lands which might be sold by him under said power of attorney.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the court to give its instruction to the jury upon the construction of the power of attorney executed by the defendant to Elisha Starr, so given in evidence at this stage of the cause, as in the event of such construction's being against the existence of such authority in said attorney under said power, the said plaintiff had further evidence to give of the representations of the said agent to the said plaintiff at the time of and made as a part of the transaction.

The court reserved for the present their opinion upon the question for the purpose of hearing the further evidence of the plaintiff, so as to enable him to bring out the whole case and perhaps thereby save another trial.

The counsel for the plaintiff then offered to prove that at the time of negotiating the sale of and of selling the land described in said deed to the plaintiff, the said Elisha Starr fraudulently represented to the plaintiff that he, the said Elisha Starr, was authorized by the defendant to warrant the defendant's title to the premises therein described, and withheld from the plaintiff any view of the power of attorney in question, and that the plaintiff refused to make the purchase or take any conveyance of such lands without such warranty on the part of the defendant.

The counsel for the defendant objected to the evidence so offered as incompetent and inadmissible, and the court sustained the objection and excluded the testimony, and the counsel for the plaintiff excepted to the decision.

The counsel for the plaintiff next offered to prove that at the time of the negotiation of the said sale between Starr and

the plaintiff, and as a part of the transaction, the said Elisha Starr, as the agent of the defendant, also fraudulently represented to the plaintiff that the defendant had a good and valid title to the land described in the said deed, and that the plaintiff was deceived thereby.

The counsel for the defendant objected to the evidence so offered, and the court overruled the objection, and to the decision thereon the counsel for the defendant excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff recalled Theophilus Nichols, who further testified that he was present at the negotiations and bargain between the plaintiff and Elisha Starr, as the agent of the defendant, as to the sale of the acre of land described in said deed; that Mr. Starr stated that the title to the land was good, and there could not be a question about it, because the defendant had the government title; that it had been sold by the government about a year previous to that time. That Linus Thompson and others had floated off George Walker, who had first settled on it, and claimed a preemption right, but who had got no patent; that the defendant's title was direct from the government, and there was no question about it. Mr. Starr proposed to give to the plaintiff a quitclaim deed, and said it was just as well, as the title came from the government. The plaintiff said he would not accept it; that he would not take the land unless he had covenants of warranty; and Mr. Starr then gave the plaintiff the deed read in evidence in this case. No title papers were produced by Starr or exhibited to the plaintiff. It was stated in the body of the deed executed by Starr, from whom the defendant had purchased, but he did not exhibit to the plaintiff any papers of any kind. Plaintiff, and Mr. Baldwin and witness, all stayed together at the public house kept by Starr. They all went to Milwaukee together for the same purpose; stayed together, purchased together, and left together. The plaintiff did not make any examination of the title that witness knows of. Witness purchased an acre of the defendant of the same title at the same time and under the same representations, and witness did not make any examination of title, but relied upon the representations of Mr. Starr. They all left Milwaukee on 10 November, 1836, three days after they made the purchase.

The counsel for the plaintiff then recalled David V. B. Baldwin, who further testified that he had heard the testimony just given by Mr. Nichols and concurred with him as to the representations made by Mr. Starr and the acts done by the parties in making such purchase; that he was present and acting with the others in the transaction; that no examination of the title

The counsel for the plaintiff next read in evidence, from the same volume of the statutes of Wisconsin above referred to, an act of the Legislature of the Territory of Wisconsin entitled "An act in relation to fraudulent conveyances of lands and the conveyance thereof," the sixth section of said title, in the words and figures following, to-wit:

"SEC. 6. No estate or interest in land other than leases for a term not exceeding one year, nor any trust or power over or concerning lands, or in any manner relating thereto, shall hereafter be created, granted, assigned, surrendered, or declared unless by act or operation of law, or by deed or conveyance in writing, subscribed by the party creating, granting, assigning, surrendering, or declaring the same, or by his lawful agent thereunto authorized by writing."

The proofs in the cause were here closed.

The counsel for the defendant prayed the court to instruct the jury:

First. That the plaintiff had not proved the failure of the defendant's title to the lands in question, because he had not shown that the defendant had not acquired a title from the French settlers or other source than the government of the United States.

Second. That if it be shown that the defendant claimed title under the government of the United States, the plaintiff has not shown that the title of the defendant to said lands has been legally declared to be invalid. That the certificate of the register of the land office at Green Bay gave a title to the lands, and the only power vested in the officers of the government at Washington was to see that two patents were not issued for the same land.

Third. That by the acts of Congress granting rights of preemption to actual settlers, Linus Thompson had a right to float upon the land in question; and that the decision of the Secretary of the Treasury annulling the certificate of the register was contrary to law, and void. That under the Chicago treaty, the lands in question were public lands at the date of the passage of the said act.

Fourth. That the deed of defendant in evidence in this cause is a sealed instrument by the law of the Territory of Wisconsin, and is to be treated and regarded as a sealed instrument in the State of New York, because of its character at the place where it was made, and that the present action being assumpsit, such cannot be maintained upon said deed.

Fifth. That no action will lie upon this deed upon a failure of the title to the lands therein described without express covenants of warranty; there being no valid warranty against the defendant, the plaintiff is not entitled to recover.

Sixth. That the plaintiff is not entitled to recover in this form of action, if a fraud be proved in the cause, but should have brought an action on the case for deceit.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the said court to instruct the jury, that the action of assumpsit is properly brought in this Court upon the promises of the defendant contained in said deed, if any promises are made therein which are binding or obligatory upon the defendant.

The court so instructed the jury, and to such instruction the counsel for the defendant excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the court to instruct the jury that the deed in question being without seal, by the laws of the State of New York, and a deed to convey lands in the Territory of Wisconsin not being required by the laws of that territory to have any seal or any device by way of seal affixed thereto, it is competent for the plaintiff to prove a ratification of the defendant by parol of the act of Starr as his attorney in warranting such title.

The court refused so to instruct the jury, and thereupon instructed the jury that by the laws of the Territory of Wisconsin, the said deed is an instrument under seal, that it is a covenant by the laws of that territory, and this court must so regard it, and give it the same effect here that it would have in the Territory of Wisconsin; that being a covenant by the laws of that territory, there can be no ratification or confirmation of the act of the agent, Starr, by the defendant, which will be binding upon the defendant, unless made by an instrument executed by him under seal.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the said court to submit to the jury, upon the facts in evidence, the question whether the defendant, with full knowledge that his agent, Elisha Starr, had assumed in his name to warrant and had warranted the title to the land in question to the plaintiff, had ratified the act of the said agent in making such warranty.

The court refused to submit the said question of ratification to the jury upon the evidence in the case, and to such refusal of the said court the counsel for the plaintiff then and there excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the court to instruct the jury that the agent of the defendant having undertaken to convey a title to the plaintiff, and the defendant having

given the agent authority so to do, if the jury believe the defendant had no title to the premises described in said deed at the time of the execution and delivery thereof, then the consideration for which the plaintiff paid his money to the defendant has failed, and the plaintiff is entitled to recover.

The court refused so to instruct the jury, and to such refusal the counsel for the plaintiff excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the court to instruct the jury that if the defendant's agent made a representation to the plaintiff, as to the title of the defendant to the land described in said deed, which was untrue, and which was material to, and was relied upon by, the plaintiff, so that the plaintiff was actually deceived as to the subject he was acquiring by his bargain, the plaintiff is entitled to recover whether there was moral fraud or not on the part of the agent in making such representations.

The court refused so to instruct the jury, and to the said refusal the counsel for the plaintiff excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then requested the said court to submit to the jury, upon the evidence in the case, the question whether Elisha Starr, by fraudulent representations, induced the plaintiff to believe that the defendant had title to the land described in said deed when the defendant had no such title, and upon such belief became the purchaser thereof.

The court refused to submit such question to the jury on the ground that the evidence so introduced on the part of the said plaintiff did not go far enough to raise the question of fraud on the part of the agent of the defendant, and decided that the plaintiff must give evidence of knowledge on the part of the agent, at the time of making such representations, that the representations so made were untrue.

To which refusal and decision the counsel for the plaintiff then and there excepted.

The counsel for the plaintiff then prayed the court to submit the question to the jury upon the evidence in the case whether the agent of the defendant, at the time of making the representations so made by him to the plaintiff, had not knowledge that the representations so made by him were untrue.

The court refused to submit the said question to the jury on the ground that no evidence had been given on the part of the plaintiff to authorize the submission thereof.

To which refusal of the said court the counsel for the plaintiff then and there excepted.

The court instructed the jury in respect to the question reserved in the course of the trial that the power of attorney,

upon a true construction of its terms and conditions, conferred upon the agent authority to give a deed of the land with covenant of warranty, to which the counsel for the defendant then and there excepted.

The jury thereupon, under the charge of the court, rendered a verdict for the plaintiff of $2,862.25 damages and six cents costs.

Disclaimer: Official Supreme Court case law is only found in the print version of the United States Reports. Justia case law is provided for general informational purposes only, and may not reflect current legal developments, verdicts or settlements. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or information linked to from this site. Please check official sources.